Socket



May 16, 1939.l

SOCKET Filed Feb. s, 193? Inventor: Joseph yD. C aclrf, by

H is Attrney -J. D. cr-:ADER' Y2,158,851`

Patented Mayl, 1939 PATENT OFFICE soclmr Joseph D. Ceader, Cleveland Heights, Ohio, assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Application February 3, 1937, Serial No. 123,754

15 Claims. l(Cl. 1734-346) 'Ihe present invention relates to electric sockets of the type having provisions for preventing short-circuit of the terminals thereof when the socket is empty. Sockets of this type are particularly adapted for use in locations where there is some chance that pieces of tin foil or other metallic particles may fall into empty sockets and short-circuit the exposed terminals.

' The object oi my invention is to provide an improved construction and arrangement in sockets of this type and for a consideration of what I believe to be novel and my invention attention is directed to the accompanying description and the claims appended hereto.

In the accompanying drawing Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of a socket embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective'view of the screw shell used in the socket shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of a modification;

and Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the part closing the lower end of the screw shell of the socket shown in Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawing, the socket has a base or huskV I molded of suitable insulating material. 'I'he base has a cylindrical recess 2 in which is fixed a disk 3 of insulating material. The disk is pressed against a shoulder 4 at the bottom oi the recess and is fixed therein by frictional engagement with the sides of the' recess. At the cenr of the disk is a rivet 5 which secures a terminal 6 to the lower side of the disk. The

head 1 of the rivet is on the upper side of the disk and serves as a contact for connecting the terminal 6 with the center terminal of the. socket.

Near the periphery of the disk 3 is a rivet 8 which secures a terminal 9 and a `strip contact I3 to the underside of the disk. The contact I0 extends around the edge of the disk and projects upward through a groove Il in the side walls of the recess 2. In the use of the socket the terminals 6 and 9 are respectively connected to one of the line conductors. The line conductors extend from the terminals through an opening I2 in the lower end of the base. The space surrounding the terminals and the conductors may be filled with a suitable cement for holding the conductors in place. 'I'he manner of connecting the conductors to the terminals is not shown, it being well understood in the art. On the upper side of the disk is a spacing sleeve I3 of insulat ing material on the upper edge ofwhich rests the outer edge of a flexible diaphragm Il of suitable insulating material. The outer edge of the diaphragm. is clamped between the spacing sleeve I3 and a iiange I5 at the lower .end of a screw shell I8. The screw shell is xed in the base by frictional engagement of a iiange i1 at its upper end with the side walls of the recess 2. Slots I3 are cut in the lower end of the screw shell providing a tongue IB opposite the contact III 5 which is normaly bent inward toward the `axis of the screw shell. When a plug is threaded into a shell, the tongue I9 is forced outward into engagement with a curved portion 2U at the upper end of the contact I0. When the plug is removed from 10 the screw shell the tongue I3 returns to the pcf sition illustrated in which it is spaced from the contact Ill. When the screw shell is empty the screw shell is therefore insulated from the line conductors. At the center of the diaphragm Il 15 is riveted a contact 2| the lower end of which is adapted to cooperate with the contact I and the upper end of which is adapted to cooperatel with the center contact of a plug. The contact4 2| serves as the center terminal of the socket. 20 When the plug is threaded in the shell the flexibility of the diaphragm permits the contact 2| to be forced into engagement with the contact 'I by the downward flexing of the diaphragm completing the circuit from the terminal 6 to the 25 center contact of the plug. When the plug is removed the diaphragm returns to the position illustrated in which the contacts l and 2| are separated.

When the socket is empty it is therefore al1-30 parent that the exposed conducting parts of the socket, i. e., the shell Island the center terminal 2l are insulated from the line conductors and the socket cannot be short-circuited by pieces of tin foil dropping into the open socket. 35

The socket shown in Figs. 3 and 4 is of substantially the same construction as the socket shown in Figs. 1 and 2, corresponding parts being denoted by the same reference numerals. In this construction the diaphragm I4 instead of being 40 made of iiexible material is made of relatively rigid insulating material and has a curved slot 22 which provides a tongue 23 carrying the contact 2 I. Although the material of the diaphragm is relatively rigid, this construction permits the 45 tongue 23 to be relatively resilient so that the contact 2l may be pressed against the contact 1 to complete the electrical connection by downward iiexing of the tongue 23. When the pressure on the contact 2i is released the tongue 23 returns -50 i to its normal position in which the contact 2l is separated from the contact 1. 'I'he screw shell I6 is secured in the base in the same manner as in the socket shown in Fig. 1. The screw shell has, however, a somewhat diierent arrangement 55 for making and breaking the contact between the screw shell and the contact I0. In this construction slots 24 are cut. in opposite sides of the screw shell at the lower end and the lower end of the screw shell is formed so that the diameter of its lower end is less than the diameter of its upper end. When the screw shell is empty the lower end of 4the screw shell is spaced from the curved portion 2li on the contact Ill and the screw shell is therefore electrically insulated from the line conductors. When a plug is threaded in the shell the lower end of the screw shell is forced outward and contact is effected between the screw shell and the portion 2U of the contact I0, thus completing the circuit to the screw shell. When the plug is removed from the screw shell the shell.

returns to the position illustrated due to its-in herent resilience.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In an electric socket, a screw shell having a flexible diaphragm closing the lower end thereof, said diaphragm being ilxed at its edges, a contact carried by said diaphragm intermediate its edges and adapted to be engaged by the center contact of a plug threaded in the shell, a portion of said diaphragm intermediate its edges being ilexed downward by the pressure exerted thereon by the center contact of the plug, and means for completing a circuit to said contact upon downward movement of said portion of the diaphragm, said circuit being open when the diaphragm is in its normal position. Y

2. In an electric socket, a screw shell, a disk of insulating material closing the lower end thereof, said disk being ilxed at its edges and having a. resilient intermediate part carrying a contact adapted to be engaged by the center contact of a plug threaded in the shell and to be flexed downward thereby, and means for completing a circuit from one of the line conductors to said contact upon downward movement of said resilient part, said circuit being open when said resilient part is in its normal position.

3. In an electric socket having a center terminal and a screw shell comprising the other terminal of the socket, a disk of insulating material closing the lower end of the screw shell, said disk being xed at its edges and having a resilient intermediate portion adapted to be iiexed downward by a plug threaded in the shell, a contact adapted to be connected to a line conductor, and means for completing a circuit from said line contact to one of said terminals upon downward movement of the resilient portion, said circuit being open when said resilient portion is in its normal position.

4. In an electric socket having a center terminal and a screw shell comprising the other terminal of the socket, a ilexible diaphragm closing the lower end of the screw shell, said diaphragm being fixed at its edges and having an intermediate portion of said diaphragm flexed downward by the pressure exerted thereon by a plug threaded in the shell, and means for completing a circuit to one of said terminals upon downward movement of said portion of the diaphragm, said circuit being open when said portion of the diaphragm is in its normal position.

5. In an electric socket having a center terminal and a screw shell comprising the other terminal of the socket, a disk of insulating material closing the lower end of the screw shell, said disk being iixed at its edges and having a resilient intermediate part adapted to be engaged by a plug threaded in the shell and to be ilexed downward thereby, a contact adapted to be connected to a line conductor, and a contact connected to one of said terminals and arranged to be moved downward by downward movement of said resilient part into engagement of said line contact, said terminal contact being separated from said line contact when said resilient part is in its normal position.

6. In an electric socket having a center terminal and a screw shell comprising the other terminal of the socket, exible diaphragm closing the lower end of the screw shell, said diaphragm being xed at its edges and having an intermediate part arranged to be engaged by a plug threaded in the shell and to be ilexed downward thereby, a contact adapted to be connected to a line conductor, a contact connected to one of said terminals and arranged to be moved downward into engagement with said line contact by downward movement of said diaphragm, said terminal contact being separated from said line contact when the diaphragm is in its normal position.

'1. In an electric socket, a screw shell, a member of insulating maten'al below the lower end of the shell carrying a line contact, a exible diaphragm closing the lower end of the shell, said diaphragm being clamped between said member and the lower end of the shell, a contact carried by said diaphragm and adapted to be engaged by the center contact of a plug threaded in the shell, said diaphragm being forced downward by f' the pressure exerted thereon by the center contact of the plug, and means for completing a circuit between said contacts upon downward movement of said diaphragm, said circuit being open when the diaphragm is in its normal position.

8. In an electric socket, a screw shell, a member of insulating material below the lower end of the shell carrying a line contact, a disk of insulating material closing the lower end of the shell, said disk being clamped at its edges between said member and the lower end of the shell and having a resilient intermediate part carrying a contact adapted to be engaged by the center contact of a plug threaded in the shell and to be forced downward thereby, and means lfor completing a circuit between said contacts upon downward movement of said resilient part, said circuit being open when said resilient part is in its normal position.

9. In an electric socket having a center terminal and a screw shell comprising the other terminal socket, a member of insulating material below the lower end of the shell carrying line contacts,

a disk of insulating material closing the lower end of the shell, said disk being clamped at its edges between said member and the lower `end of the shell and having a resilient part adapted to be moved downward by a plug threaded in the shell, and means for completing a circuit from one of said linecontacts to one of said terminals upon downward movement of said resilient part, said circuit being open when said resilient part is in its normal position. y

10. In an electric socket having a center terminal and a screw shell comprising the other terminal of the socket, a member of insulating material below the lower end of the screw shell carrying line contacts, a iiexible diaphragm closing the lower end of the screw shell, the edges of said diaphragm being clamped between the lower end ofthe shell and said member and an intermediate portion or said diaphragm being forced downward by the pressure exerted thereon by a plug threaded in the shell. and means for completing a cir cuit between one of said line contactsfand one of said terminals upon downward movement of said portion of said diaphragm, said circuit being open when said portion of the diaphragm is in its normal position.. y

1l. In an electric socket having a center terminal and the screw shell comprising the other terminal socket, a member oi insulating material below the lower end of the screw shell carrying line contacts, a disk oi insulating material closing the lower end of the screw shell, said disk belng clamped at its edges between said member and the lower end of the shell and having a resilient part adapted to be engaged by a plug threaded in the shell and to be forced downward thereby, and means for completing a circuit between one of said line contacts and one of said terminals upon downward movement of said resilient part, said circuit being open when said part is in its normal position.

l2. In an electric socket having a center terminal and a screw shell comprising the other terminal of the socket, a member of insulating material below the lower end of the shell carrying line contacts, a disk of insulating material'closing the lower end of the shell, said disk being clamped at its edges between said member and the lower end of the shell and having a resilient part intermediate its edges adapted to be engaged by a plug threaded in the shell and to be forced downward thereby, and a contact connected `to one of said terminals and arranged to be moved downward by downward movement of said resilient part into engagement with one of said line contacts, said terminal contact being separated from said line contact when said resilient part is in its normal position.

13. In an electric socket, socket terminals comprising a screw shell and a center contact, a ilexible diaphragm closing the lower end of the shell, said diaphragm being iixed at its edges and the portion intermediate its edges having a normal position above the center contact preventing contact therewith by material placed in the shell and being ilexed downward by a plug threaded in the shell to a position permitting contact between said center contact and the center terminal of said plug.

14. In an electric socket, a shell adapted to receive a plug, a closed chamber including `a iiex ible wail, said closed chamber being provided with contacts on opposite sides, said flexible wall being adapted to be flexed by the insertion of said plug into said shell to eilect closure vof said contacts.

15. In an electric socket, a shell adapted to receive a plug, a. closed chamber having a. ilexible wall provided with a contact, an opposed wall having a contact, said ilexible wall being adapted to be ilexed by the insertion of said plug into said shell to effect closure of said contacts.

JOSEPH D. CEADER. 

